CalCog is a global leader in clinical supply services, providing clinical packaging and labeling services, kit and label design services, global warehousing and distribution, comparator and commercial drug sourcing, and expanded access program management services for more than 27 years.
CalCog is a key resource for small and medium sized pharmaceutical and biotech organizations, contract research organizations, and academic institutions. It has the infrastructure, expertise, and quality management systems of a large clinical supply company and the flexible production schedules and client responsiveness of a small company.
Since implementing Loftware Prisym 360, our label production process at CalCog has undergone a transformation that not only bolsters our operational efficiency, but also amplifies our client-centric approach that underscores our commitment to quality, timelines, and cost-effectiveness.
Neil Armstrong
Global Director of Business Transformation
With GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) facilities in both the USA and UK, historically each location independently performed clinical trials labeling – using different processes, software, and equipment – making it exceptionally difficult to transfer projects between the sites. CalCog was eager to streamline its operations and bring the labeling function in-house to give them greater control over pricing and, most importantly, the production timeline.
Design and print lead times for single-panel labels had been worsening for an extended period in the industry. This was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought extreme price volatility and caused frustration for both CalCog and their clients. 25-day lead times for printing (from the time of order) had unfortunately become standard, despite print companies continuing to advertise a 20-day lead time as normal. This caused delays to project timelines and difficult conversations with customers.
Limitations of CalCog’s existing labeling systems meant that while the UK site was able to try printing as many single-panel labels in-house as possible, the Texas operation had remained fully dependent on outsourcing; just 5% of labels across the group were being printed in-house.
CalCog began by examining the existing software being used at their UK site, working to identify the limitations and the potential benefits of upgrading both Texas and the UK to a newer version of this platform. However, they quickly realized it wouldn’t provide the process efficiencies required to offer industry leading service levels.
We didn’t have confidence in our old software, but it was what we knew.” said Neil Armstrong. “It was taking us 15 days from the start of the design process to having a usable proof, and there were lots of manual procedures introduced to manage the process. We were fully aware that we needed a clean slate on our labeling processes and that our future approach should be underpinned by a tried and tested industry solution. That software was Prisym 360, and there was nothing else on the market that could compete with it.
